#anju writes

[meltylove97]

i want to live

#oc #anju #these quotes twirl around in my mind so often. ever since i started writing anjus character theyve been a central inspiration for her and #i feel like they sum up her journeys message so well. im glad i could finally get myself to execute a sequential piece based off it #because ive wanted to since a long time. and also i feel like i couldve used a reminder of what im saying here at the moment #at the end of the day theres people and things you need to survive for #ffxiv

[abluescarfonwaston]

Word count: 996

Tags: Kotetsu’s powers come in, hurt no comfort, unless you consider the greater narrative of the series, Sensory overload

Summary: Kotetsu has been acting strange. Staying out late. Avoiding her. Skipping dinner.

He won't tonight. She sits him down in front of the long since cold fried rice and tries to draw it from him. But he's not hungry and he won't tell her.

He is hungry. But if he touches the fork it might break. Might break the plate and table too. But it doesn't matter if he won't say. Destruction lives under his skin and all it takes to ruin something is a single touch.

#tiger and bunny #kotetsu t. kaburagi #kotetsu kaburagi #anju kaburagi #you know it tracks the first fic i manage to finish is this #anyway fics with comfort coming eventually #i literally got distracted writing a different 'kotetsu's powers come in' fic that Does eventually have comfort #to write this #so it goes

[digitalsatyr23]

Ocarina of Time Fanfic (Ch3)

Saria, Hero of the Forest Chapter 3: Sunshine and Storm Clouds Characters: Saria, Kakariko Villagers, Anju, Sharp, Flat…

Saria was restless. She remained in a half-conscious, half-unconscious state for hours, never reaching full sleep. Tossing and turning, she eventually woke up to the smell of fresh stew. Salty and savory smells made her mouth water. Wiping her mouth with her sleeve and rubbing her eyes, she remembered where she was. She was in a small house in Kakariko Village.

“Oh, you’re finally awake, dearie!” said a portly woman at a stove. “Are you hungry? I made potato stew if you’d like some.”

“Y-yes, I’d appreciate that. Thank you.”

As Saria sat up, she realized that Poppy was fast asleep inside her cap, right beside the pillow. She decided to leave the fairy alone and join the woman at the table. After being served a good portion of stew, Saria let the steam hit her face. Now she felt fully awake.

After blowing on a few spoonfuls of stew to cool it and eat, Saria said, “This is good! Thank you for this, miss…?”

“You can call me Ofukuro. And your name is Saria, right?”

“It is. My memory of our first meeting is fuzzy. I was pretty tired when I came here.”

“It’s fine. Your little fairy explained things.” Ofukuro paused to eat some stew then continued. “It’s probably not my business, but are doing all right, dear? You were crying in your sleep. Your fairy was so worried she stayed up the whole time to watch over you. She only recently fell asleep herself.”

Saria glanced back at Poppy, who looked so sweet and peaceful. One of the fairy’s legs twitched before she calmed down. The Kokiri’s expression softened at the sight.

“I’ve been better, but I’m trying to make the most of things. Thank you for your concern, Ofukuro.”

“Of course! And if you’re still troubled, you can always come talk to me.” By this time, the kind woman had finished her first bowl and got up to serve herself seconds – or so Saria thought. After filling several other bowls, she turned to Saria. “Since you’re awake, if it’s not too much trouble, my sons have been working all day in the village. They’re carpenters that were all hired by Impa to help expand this village, but their boss, Mutoh, is always working them half to death. Could you take some stew to them for me?”

“I’d be happy to.”

“Wonderful! They’re all over village, but it shouldn’t be hard to recognize them. They’re all quite big, with hair the same color as mine. There’s Ichiro, Jiro, Sabooro, and Shiro.”

“Ichiro, Jiro, Sabooro, and Shiro. Got it.”

Showing great dexterity, Saria grabbed two bowls and balanced two more on her arms. She swiftly made her way through the village, seeking out the oversized men. It didn’t take long to find the first one.

The first son, Ichiro, was found inside a finished but empty building. His eyes lit up as he saw the stew and thanked Saria profusely for it, slurping it down in a go. After slamming the bowl on the counter, he said, “Ah, thanks for that!”

“You’re very welcome,” said Saria. “Say, if you don’t mind me asking, what are you doing in here?”

Ichiro leaned in and said, “Between you and me, I’m actually hiding from the boss.”

“O-oh, is that so?”

“I nearly threw out my back yesterday carrying wood and I barely get paid anything! I’ll never get rich like this! It kinda makes me wonder if there’s a way to work less but get paid more.” The man scratched his chin. “I suppose I could become a thief.”

Did he just say that out loud? Saria thought.

“Are you sure that’s the best course of action? What if you get caught? Wouldn’t you get in trouble?” asked Saria.

“Whaaaat? I’m sure that wouldn’t happen. I just gotta… Find some people who are already thieves and join ‘em. I’m sure my brawn would impress them!” The man laughed to himself. Saria decided to ditch him and move on.

Saria bumped into the second son after leaving the empty building. Jiro, a man with puffy hair, was running things back and forth between the center of town and up near the gate. He gasped upon seeing Saria masterfully balance all the hot bowls.

“Oh my goodness! Is that stew?”

After swiping a bowl, he quickly ate but soon regretted it, burning his tongue. “Ow ow ow ow!”

It was an amusing but worrying sight. Saria asked, “Are you okay?”

“Yeah, I’ll be fine. I was just so hungry I couldn’t help myself! The boss is always making us work on all kinds of projects in the village. It’s super hard work!”

Without missing a beat, Jiro continued his tasks, all while balancing the bowl atop his fluffy hair.

The third son, Sabooro, was found atop a half-finished building in the middle of the village. He was standing on a brick wall overlooking things while the fourth son, Shiro, was running supplies up to the building from the windmill.

“Hey, Ofukuro wanted you to have this,” said Saria, handing Sabooro a bowl.

“Ooooh, thank you!” The man sat down on the building frame, blew on the stew to cool it and started to eat, taking his time to enjoy every bite. “I gotta thank her for this. This really hit the spot! Come to think of it, I don’t think I’ve seen you around before. Are you moving into the village?”

Saria sat down on the building frame as well, saying, “What? Oh no, I’m just passing through. I was just doing Ofukuro a favor since she gave me a place to rest.”

“I see, I see,” the man nodded, enjoying the stew. After taking a break from eating, he looked out across the village. “That’s just how we are in this place. It was Impa that finally opened this village to the public so we poor folk could have a place to live. She even hired all of us to help expand it since we started running out of room for new people. I think that kindness was contagious, because everyone is always trying to help others in their own way here.”

Saria listened intently to the man’s words. Her first impression of Impa was frankly terrifying, but little by little, she started to realize that hard exterior bellied a great deal of kindness.

“I see… Impa is something else, huh?”

“You’re telling me! It’s a shame she’s always so busy. She used to live here you know, before she had to spend all her time working in the castle. She may as well be the head of this village, though we rarely see her. I wonder when she’ll be back?”

“If I happen to see her, I’ll ask her.”

“Well aren’t you a helpful sort?”

“I’m just trying fit in.”

The pair laughed together, and Saria started to feel at peace. The people she had met outside the forest were sometimes strange, scary, or downright rude, but there were many others who were pleasant and kind. She decided that, if possible, she would show all the Kokiri this village when time allowed.

“Oh wow, is that stew?” said Shiro as he swiped the bowl and went back to work without a second thought. Sabooro and Saria froze at the display, unsure how to react.

“Don’t mind my brother,” said Sabooro nervously. “Shiro and the others are, um, how should I put this? A bit blunt. They don’t mean to be rude, they just don’t think about these kinds of things.”

“Reminds me of someone I know back in my village.”

When Sabooro finished his stew, Saria went to reach for the bowl, but the man stopped her. “Don’t worry, I’ll take care of this and the other bowls myself. I’m sure you’re plenty busy.”

“Oh, I wouldn’t say that. I’m still waiting for a friend to wake up.”

“Really? Well… If you’re feeling especially charitable, I know of a way you can kill time. You see that woman over there by the animal pen?”

Saria turned her head. A rather distressed-looking woman with dark red hair and blue eyes was frantically running about trying to grab cuccos, all of which were roaming free throughout the village.

“That’s Anju,” said Sabooro. “She’s the daughter of our boss. I always feel bad for her, because she takes care of the village cuccos even though she has an allergy to them. I’ve helped her with the cuccos before, but they escape the pen so much it’s hard to keep up with them.”

“I see…” Saria looked around, noting the cuccos scattered throughout the village. She left the man by the brick wall, darting around the village at great speed and scooping up every cucco she could find until she dropped them back into the pen.

“W-wha? How did you do that so quickly? Thank you!” said Anju.

“It’s no big deal! I heard you had trouble with these little guys, so I thought I’d help.”

“Oh… I didn’t mean to be a bother.”

“No no, it’s fine.”

Despite Saria’s words, Anju hung her head low. “I don’t have many useful skills so I try and do what I can to help out around here. I was fine taking care of the cuccos for a while, but one day they started giving me goosebumps. It’s so troublesome, but I don’t want to stop and doing nothing all day.”

“Is it really so wrong to sit around? I mean… I know how you feel, but it’s okay to take a break every once and a while too. Don’t be so hard on yourself.”

“I appreciate your kind words, but it’s hard convincing myself it’s okay.”

She has quite the complex, Saria thought. I wonder…

“Hey, do you know if anyone around here has a sewing kit?”

“I think that house over there might have one. Why do you ask?”

Saria took off running. “You’ll see.”

After talking with another villager and getting some supplies, Saria fashioned a thick pair of work gloves for Anju.

“Here, that should help.”

“Oh! Thank you so much! But why the gift?”

“I figure if I can’t convince you to take a break, I can at least make handling the cuccos easier. I made you a bandana as well so you could cover your face when you needed to. I hope it helps!”

As Anju gripped the gloves and bandana, tears streamed from her eyes.

“W-wait, what did I do?” asked Saria.

“I… I… You’re just so kind! I don’t know what to say!!”

Rubbing the back of her head, Saria said, “Don’t worry so much about it! It’s fine. Honest!”

“No, this won’t do. I was raised better. Hold on!”

Anju sped to the top of the village. It sounded like she was frantically searching through her house. When she returned, she gave Saria a fine glass bottle (eerily similar to one Impa had).

“Here, take this!”

“Anju, it’s fine.”

“No! I refuse! I can’t just let you be so nice without trying to give something in return! Please, accept it!”

Feeling defeated, Saria smiled and accepted the bottle, putting it away in one of her pouches.

“Ah, well, I’m sure I can use it for something… Thank you very much, Anju.”

“And you as-” Anju gasped. “Oh no! I don’t even know your name! I’m sorry!”

“It’s Saria.”

“Saria? I’ll do my best to remember the name. Thank you once again!”

Saria nodded along, smiling but a little nervous as she walked away.

She’s a bit sensitive, it seems. That’s okay, though. It wouldn’t be the first time I’ve dealt with people like that.

The Kokiri reminisced about a time in her village when two of the boys were playfighting with wooden swords. One was a bit too rough and tore a hole in the other’s tunic. As Saria had helped fashion the tunic for the boy, he became so mad that he lashed out at his opponent, hurting him more than he intended. Saria had to break up the fight and set the two aside, giving both a talking to. After Saria helped fix the tunic and gave the other some medicine, they both wept profusely before Saria, apologizing over and over for their behavior. Those same two boys went on to become good friends. Saria realized she had been smiling the whole time she was reminiscing, her cheeks grown warm. Somehow, spending time in Kakariko Village and helping the villagers was making her homesick.

I should visit them soon…

With matters settled in the village, Saria returned to Ofukuro’s house to check on Poppy. When she stepped inside the house, Poppy flew straight into her chest.

“There you are! Why were you gone so long? I was worried about you!” the fairy fumed.

“I was helping out in the village. Don’t worry so much.” Saria gave Poppy a pat on the head, frustrating the fairy.

“Don’t tell me what to do! I have every right to worry after everything that’s happened!”

Even as Poppy continued to grumble, Saria chuckled at the sight. Hearing Poppy’s words brought Saria great joy. It was a busy morning, but somehow, she felt more rested than she had when she first woke up.

“Hey, Ofukuro, we’re taking off now. Thanks for all the help!” said Saria.

“Leaving so soon? All right, dearie! Feel free to come back anytime!”

Saria and Poppy said their goodbyes, leaving the house behind and making their way toward the gate that led to Death Mountain. As they did, Saria noticed a man stuck on a roof. He was looking past the Windmill to a corner of the village she had yet to explore.

“Looks like another storm,” said the man.

“A storm? With this weather?”

“There’s always a storm brewing over the graveyard. Not sure why.”

“A graveyard? What’s a graveyard?”

The man looked puzzled at Saria’s words. “Are you serious? It’s where the dead are buried.”

“Oh, I’m sorry. When someone passes away in my village, we simply return them to the soil under our great tree.”

The man seemed unsure how to respond. He said, “Graveyards aren’t too different from that. The one in this village uses stones to mark where the dead are buried. Past members of the Sheikah and Royal Family are buried there, supposedly. Old Dampé maintains the place if you’re really curious, though I suppose he’s likely asleep at the moment…”

Saria looked to Poppy. “Why would there be perpetual storms over such a place? Wouldn’t such an important place have protective magics? Unless…” Saria paused, lost in thought.

“I don’t know, but it gives me the creeps,” said Poppy.

“We should check it out, just in case.”

“What? Why? We have a mission to get to!”

“I want to make sure the village will be okay. It should only take a minute.”

Saria thanked the man on the roof and walked away. Poppy watched her go and fumed. “You say that about everything!”

---

When Saria first stepped into the village graveyard, the weather seemed calm, yet the closer she got, more and more dark clouds formed overhead, rumbling with thunder and lightning. Soon enough, rain was coming down all over the graveyard. Passing through the fence that separated the village from the graves, Saria found a large stone that read:

“R.I.P. Here lie the souls of those who swore fealty to the Royal Family of Hyrule. The Sheikah, guardians of the Royal Family and founders of Kakariko, watch over these spirits in their eternal slumber.”

“So it’s true,” said Saria. “This really is the burial site of the Sheikah and Royal Family.”

“Sounds like a good reason to leave them alone,” said Poppy.

Saria looked around. There was a small wooden shack to her right – likely the home of the gravekeeper – and a small boy who was swinging about a stick up ahead, saying he was imitating Dampé because he was bored. Other than that, there was nothing but rows and rows of graves with elaborately carved headstones. When she looked at the far end of the graveyard, Saria felt a wind blow that chilled her to the bone.

“What was that? It felt so… Unnatural.”

The Kokiri made her way to the very top of the graveyard. A large grave with two smaller graves dedicated to composers sat just before a raised fenced-off area. A strange, dark energy could be felt emanating from the cavern beyond the fencing up above.

“Curious… I wonder what’s up there?” asked Saria.

Poppy, who kept looking over her shoulder, said, “I don’t think it’s our business to know. We should get out of here!” Poppy checked her surroundings once more. “There’s something not right about this place. The spirits here are… Restless.”

“I feel it too, but this could be a good opportunity to learn about the Sheikah. Impa seems nice enough, but I still don’t trust the Sheikah.” Looking up at the fenced-off area, Saria said, “They’re hiding something, and I want to know what.”

Stepping closer to the large grave between the composers’ graves, she noticed an inscription, as well as the symbol of the Royal Family. Thinking back to the song Impa taught her, curiosity got the better of the Kokiri girl.

“It proves your connection to the Royal Family, does it? I wonder…”

Standing before the large grave, Saria played the song using her ocarina. Up above, the storm clouds continued to rumble and quake. They grew in intensity until finally, a lightning bolt shot out of the sky and struck the large grave, shattering it and revealing a deep pit. The explosive bolt startled the young boy in the back of the graveyard, sending him running.

“Ha! I knew it!” said Saria in triumph. “Well, except for the exploding stone part. I’m not sure how to fix that…”

Poppy floated over the dark pit, looking down. “What do you think is in there?” she asked.

“Sheikah secrets, no doubt,” Saria smugly grinned.

Saria joined her friend at the edge of the pit. It was deep enough that the faint light around the graveyard could only illuminate the first few feet. Saria was still curious, but now she wasn’t sure how to even get down there. While she was distracted, a sudden kick to her back knocked her down the hole.

“Saria!!” shouted Poppy, flying after her.

The Kokiri fell for what felt like hundreds of feet. Down, down, down into darkness she went, yet before she hit the bottom, she stopped mid-air and floated gently onto a magical platform that shimmered with light. After straightening herself out, she looked up.

“Saria, are you all right?!” asked Poppy, joining her.

“I’m fine. I don’t know what happened, though. It felt like I was pushed. Did you see who did it?”

Poppy raised a finger and was about to speak but stopped. “I… Flew down too fast to notice.”

Saria sighed. “It’s fine…” Testing her foot against the sparkling platformed, she realized it was enchanted. “I see. This should take us back to the top.”

“Oh good! Let’s get going, then.”

“Hold on,” Saria raised a hand. “We’ve come this far already. I sense dark spirits further within.” Saria drew her dagger and walked forward.

“That seems like a good reason to not stick around. Why do you want to look around so badly, anyway? Are you that curious?”

Saria reached the middle of the blue tiled chamber. The floor was littered with the bones of animals, monsters, and Hylians. She shuddered, holding a hand to her mouth.

“Wicked things truly do rest here…”

Keese noticed Saria and took flight, attacking her. Saria sliced at them as they attacked, and soon after their bodies disappeared.

“Poppy…”

“Yeah?”

“I want to keep those villagers safe. Some of them are rude and dimwitted, but many others are kind, doing their best to live their lives. I couldn’t possibly leave knowing they might be in danger.”

The fairy calmed down and looked at her friend with a tear in her eye. “Saria…”

The Kokiri girl stepped lightly around the chamber. No other monsters attacked. She did notice something else, however. She could hear the whispers of the dead.

“Shine light on the living dead…” said one of the voices.

“Those who break into the Royal Tomb will be obstructed by the lurkers in the dark…” said another.

A third voice said, “I… See… You…”

Saria stepped back. “What?”

A ghostly creature manifested itself before her, holding a lantern. A second spirit appeared behind her. Each spirit had a mustache, a composer’s baton, and flowing tattered robes with the symbol of the Triforce on them. Wearing hats, one was decorated with the image of the sun, while the other was decorated with the moon.

“Stop right there, trespasser!” said one spirit.

“You shall go no further!” said the other.

Before Saria had the chance to explain herself, the ghosts spun their lanterns around and attacked. Saria backflipped away, dodging the attack. The ghosts simply course-corrected and continued their charge. Saria answered their charge, dashing between the spirits and striking each with her dagger. The two spirits’ eyes widened in shock before they fell apart. The lanterns shattered on the ground, revealing ghostly flames. These flames, it would seem, were the true spirits.

“GYAAAAH! YOU KILLED ME… Unbelievable!” said one spirit.

“GYAAAAH! I’M DEAD AGAIN! Wait…” the other spirit said, looking Saria up and down. “You don’t look like one of Ganondorf’s agents.

“What are you talking about?” the first one shouted. “Of course she works for Ganondorf! Why else would she be down here?!”

“Hey!” shouted Saria. “I do not work for Ganondorf. Let’s get that straight right now. Furthermore, is that the only reason you attacked me? Have his agents come down here before?”

The fiery spirits looked at one another, then the right one spoke.

“Hm… Perhaps introductions are in order. My name is Sharp.”

“And I’m Flat!”

“We’re the Composer Brothers,” said Sharp, taking a bow. “We Sheikah could never figure out the power of the Triforce, but we almost completed our study of controlling time with the tones of ocarinas. Uh, I mean… Actually, we did complete that study! We were almost famous!”

“But then Ganondorf got involved…” said Flat.

“That wicked sorcerer,” Saria clenched her fist. “What did he do this time?”

“He tried to steal our results!” said Sharp. “Of course we would never let someone like him reap the fruits of our research. We gave our lives to protect our secret.”

Flat nodded. “To tell you the truth, we were each studying a different song. I was studying the moon.”

“And I, the sun. We once had a mission to study the mysterious powers of the Royal Family, which led us down this path.”

“Now that I think of it, how did you get down here? Only members of the Royal Family should be able to reach this place.”

“Well… I’m technically an envoy,” said Saria, avoiding eye contact with the ghosts.

“Oh, is that so? Perhaps we finally have the chance to share our work!” said Sharp. He turned to face a doorway up a flight of stairs next to unlit torch sconces. “Through that door at the far end of the next chamber, the last of our work has been preserved. However…”

“However?”

“A bunch of monsters are waiting to attack any intruders,” said Flat.

“What kind of monsters?” Poppy asked, biting her nails.

“The living dead,” said Sharp. “Terrible, hollow shells of men come and gone. I want you to see our work, but it may be too dangerous.”

“What would I find if I made it past them?” asked Saria.

“A magical song,” said Flat. “One that makes the moon chase the sun, and the sun chase the moon.”

“A song that could change night to day? Is such a thing even possible?”

“To be honest, we never tested it.”

Saria stumbled back.

“We’re pretty sure it works, but we were in a bit of a rush at the end. If it does work, however, you would have the power to shift the flow of time itself… Interested?”

“I’m not sure. What do you think, Poppy?” asked Saria.

“I mean it could be useful, but I don’t know what you would do with such a power. Is it really worth the risk?”

Saria pondered the matter, then spoke to the Composer Brothers again. “What are the chances these living dead could make it to the surface?”

“Now that the seal is broken?” asked Flat. “Oh, I’d say pretty good. If they can get the door open – which only requires you to touch it - that shiny platform will take them to the surface no problem!”

Sharp glared at his brother. “Are you serious? Who even put that thing there? This is a disaster! If those things get out, who knows what they’ll do!”

“I’ll take care of them,” said Saria. “I realize now I should never have come here, but I made this mess, so I’m going to clean it up.”

“Saria, are you sure?” asked Poppy. Saria nodded.

“Then before we go,” said Sharp, “let me give you some advice. The eyes of these creatures have a terrible power. They can paralyze you with a stare. They cannot see with their eyes, however. If you’re careful, you may be able to get the drop on them.”

“All right, I’ll keep that in mind. Thank you. The both of you,” Saria smiled.

Flat blushed. “Oh, it was nothing… I’m just happy all our hard work will finally amount to something.”

Sharp narrowed his gaze at his brother before saying, “Well, try not to make a habit of sticking your nose in other peoples’ graves.”

And then the flames puttered out, dissipating into the air. Before Saria entered the next chamber, Poppy slipped underneath Saria’s cap.

“I’ll just wait under here. I’m… Sure you’ll be fine.”

Saria could feel the fairy shivering. “That’s quite all right. If things get too dangerous, return to the surface and warn the others of the danger.”

Poppy gave an affirming nod, then slipped under the cap. Saria then touched a hand to the door, causing it to slide up and let her inside before shutting behind her.

Once everyone left the first chamber, a new figure slipped down the hole. After safely landing on the ground, she chuckled quietly to herself.

“So this is where they hid it…”

---

Saria stepped lightly, keeping her back to the left wall. At the end of a short hallway the room opened up. She could see pools of green sludge bubbling and release a foul gas into the air. It had a sharp, sickly-sweet smell to it. Dotting the visible walkways around the sludge were emaciating figures laying on the ground, crouching, or just staring at the walls. It looked like wooden masks had been strapped to their faces – and Saria had no doubt it was against their will.

Three, maybe four… It’s hard to tell with all that gas, Saria thought. They’re far enough away from each other that if I just stay quiet, I could-

A high-pitched whistle rang through the air from behind Saria. Someone or something had alerted the redead, and now they were all on the move.

Who did that?!

One of the redead slowly turned in Saria’s direction, shuffling forward. For just a moment, her eyes met the eyes of the redead, and a blood-curdling scream echoed in her mind, freezing her in place.

Shoot! I was careless! My body… I can’t… Move!

One step after another, the redead grew closer… And closer… A bony arm with long, bony fingers reached out to try and grab the Kokiri, but she broke out of the paralysis in the nick of time. The girl darted behind the undead monster and slashed away with her dagger, making the creature drop to the ground. Blue blood dripped from Saria’s dagger as red blood dripped from her lips. When she was certain it was slain, Saria ran for cover, wiping her mouth on her sleeve.

Had to bite my tongue just to free myself. I can’t even imagine what it would have done if I wasn’t quick enough.

After catching her breath, Saria readied herself for the next attack, but then something strange happened. The remaining redeads shuffled over to the one on the ground, crouched down, and just… Stared at it. Poppy, who was quivering beneath Saria’s cap, poked her head out and watched.

“W-w-w-what are they d-d-d-doing?”

“I’m not sure…” whispered Saria.

A few seconds passed, and the fallen redead’s body seemed to disappear, almost as if it were never real to begin with. Whether the creatures finished their business or lost interest, they all stood back up and turned away.

Now’s my chance!

Saria ran across the room, hopped over one of the sludge pits, then went wild with her dagger, striking the redead down one after the other. As frightening and durable as they were, they were too sluggish to defend themselves. With the last of the redead slain, Saria gasped for air. The gas in the room made it hard to breathe. The Kokiri struggled to get away, slumping against one of the walls and panting.

“It’s… Done…”

“Saria, you don’t look so good,” said Poppy. “Here.”

The fairy touched her hands to Saria’s forehead and glowed with magic power. Trace amounts of life energy were passed to the Kokiri, reversing the effects of the toxic fumes. Within seconds, Saria was back to normal.

“Poppy, you didn’t have to.”

“I’m your fairy, remember? I can’t sit by and do nothing while you’re suffering. Besides, if I let you fall here, it’s not like I could take on Ganondorf by myself.”

“Right you are,” said a woman’s voice. Saria turned to face the source of the voice, narrowly dodging a dagger hucked at her neck. Saria knocked a second dagger out of the air by striking it with her own, and then she finally saw her. It was a tall and muscular woman with bright red hair, dark skin, and vibrant yellow eyes. She wore jewelry, thick makeup, and colorful clothes, as well as light armor across her forearms and shins. Seeing the resemblance, Saria realized she was a Gerudo woman.

“Who are you?” asked Saria.

“Wouldn’t you like to know, fairy girl,” the woman smirked. After pulling out a small chunk of stone from her pants pocket, the woman casually tossed the stone up and down with one hand. “Thanks for the distraction. It would have been a pain to get this without you.”

“Wait, that inscription!” Poppy shouted. “Is that the Composer Brothers’ song?”

“That’s right,” said the Gerudo. “The only copy of it in the world, no less. I had ample time to remove it from that tablet at the back of the chamber. Ganondorf will be pleased once he sees this.”

Saria readied her dagger and drew a deku nut. “I won’t let you get away.”

“Oh, come on now. What do you care? You probably don’t even realize the value of this song. Don’t be a hero, girl. It’s not worth your life.” The woman grinned once more. “Unless you want to trade something for it. Call it a hunch, but I have a feeling you have something even more valuable than this song in one of those pouches.” The Gerudo then pocketed the stone and stepped forward, drawing a pair of scimitars as if from the air itself.

“Be careful, Saria. I can tell she’s no pushover,” said Poppy.

“The fairy is right, you know. I may be a lowly spy at the moment, but one day all of Gerudo Desert will know the name ‘Kitoga’!”

The Gerudo warrior dashed forward, swiping down at Saria. The Kokiri dodged, swerving to the right as she lashed out with her dagger. Kitoga parried, swinging once more with her second blade. Saria ducked, and Poppy shot up into the air, taking the cap with her. The pair of girls traded blows, one after the other as sparks fired from their blades every time they met.

Saria was pushed more and more on the defensive as Kitoga started reading her movements. Soon enough, all Saria could do was parry the Gerudo’s blades as she was pushed back toward a wall. Just when it seemed like there was no more room to go, Saria flipped back onto the wall and kicked off of it, crashing into Kitoga and knocking them both to the ground. One of the Gerudo’s scimitars fell into the green sludge while Saria’s dagger was all the way on the other side of the room.

“Damn you!” shouted Kitoga as she hucked a dagger at the Kokiri. Saria tried to dodge, but the dagger cut across her shoulder, drawing blood. Closing the distance to her own weapon, Saria turned and threw her cloak into the air, blocking Kitoga’s line of sight just long enough for Saria to toss a deku nut. Before the Gerudo realized what happened, Saria had knocked away her second scimitar, leaving her weaponless before the Kokiri.

“It’s over,” said Saria.

“Is it?!”

Kitoga threw a roundhouse kick at the girl, forcing Saria to dodge. The momentum was too much for the Gerudo’s pocket, however, and the stone was flung across the room right toward a sludge pit.

“No!” shouted Saria. The Kokiri leapt for the stone and caught it midair, landing safely on the other side of a pit. When she turned to look for the Gerudo, she was gone.

“Poppy, where’d she go?”

“She went through the door!”

Saria pursued, opening the door. By the time she was on the other side, Kitoga was already rising into the air via the magic platform. After disappearing in a beam of light, she was gone. Saria’s shoulders sunk. After smacking the side of her fist into the wall, she went back to the second chamber to retrieve her cloak.

“What’s wrong, Saria? You got the song. You won, didn’t you?” asked Poppy.

“She could have told us more about Ganondorf and his plans,” said Saria.

“Ah. You make a fair point. So it’s a draw, then.”

“It would seem so.”

Saria walked to the far end of the second chamber, finding a stone tablet on the wall. Missing from the tablet was the chunk of stone she was now carrying.

“Do I… Put it back? It seems wrong to take now.”

“She’d come back for it if you did,” said Poppy. “Might as well hold onto it for now.”

Nodding in agreement, Saria read the tablet aloud.

“This poem is dedicated to the memory of the dearly departed members of the Royal Family.

The rising sun will eventually set. A newborn’s life will fade. From sun to moon, moon to sun… Give peaceful rest to The living dead.”

“Interesting poem,” said Poppy. “So this is what the Composer Brothers left behind.”

Looking at the chunk of stone, Saria realized it had a musical staff with a set of notes indicating the song. After playing the song with her ocarina, she felt a strange magic wash over the air, as if the very sky had shifted. No longer was a dark storm brewing overhead. The clouds had parted, and the sun shined all over Kakariko.

A voice whispered in the air, “Restless souls wander where they don’t belong. Bring them calm with the Sun’s Song.”

Saria and Poppy looked around. Somehow the dark, dreary chamber felt… Peaceful. The Kokiri pocketed the Sun Song stone then looked to her companion.

“It’s time. Let’s get out of here.”

“Right,” said Poppy.

As Saria and Poppy walked back, Saria stopped, looking at the abandoned scimitar on the ground. Picking it up, Saria noticed the fine craftsmanship of the blade. Not only was the large blade sharp and thin enough to split hairs, but it also had a jeweled knuckle guard. Saria’s eyes widened as she looked at her reflection in the blade.

“Saria? You’re not taking that, are you?”

“I mean… She wouldn’t miss it, right?”

“Saria…”

“What? It’d be a waste to leave it in this tomb!”

“I can’t believe you!” Saria winced at Poppy’s chastising, but then the fairy said, “I knew it was a good idea to bond with you, you little rascal!” The fairy ruffled the Kokiri’s hair, making Saria blush. Despite the heavy mood of before, Saria’s heart felt strangely light. Once the pair were in the first chamber, they stepped onto the magic platform and were pulled to the surface by a beam of light.

“Gah!” a Hylian guard shouted, falling backwards.

“Oh! Sorry about that!” said Saria after returning to the graveyard.

“I should say! What were you doing down there?! Were you grave robbing?”

“No, it’s not like that!”

“Then explain that fancy sword!”

“This was a Royal Family tomb!” said Poppy. “Why would they have Gerudo weaponry?”

“W-why… Wouldn’t… Um… Hm. Fair enough. I still don’t know why you were down there, though.”

Unsure of what to do, Saria presented Zelda’s letter. The guard took the letter and looked it over.

“Wait a minute… This is the princess’s handwriting! Let’s see here… Hmm… Okay… ‘This is Saria… she is under my orders to save Hyrule.’ Wait, seriously?”

The guard started laughing hysterically at the letter. Saria stepped back, feeling uncomfortable.

“Is everything okay?” she asked.

“Ha ha ha! Oh, I think everything is fine. Seems the princess has come up with another funny game to play! Okay, okay, all right. Since she obviously put you up to this, I won’t punish you. In fact, I might as well ask. What else did she want you to do?”

“To travel up to Death Mountain?”

“Ha! Now that’s rich! All right, if that’s your orders, I’ll help you through the gate. Just be careful, Ms. Hero!”

The guard laughed all the way to the gate. Along the way, Saria and Poppy learned that he had been called to the graveyard to investigate the explosion from earlier. No one had seen any sign of a Gerudo. Even when Saria told the guard what happened, he didn’t believe her.

“Then how do you explain this fancy sword?!” she protested.

“I mean… Lots of Gerudo have been coming to Hyrule castle as of late. Who’s to say you didn’t buy that at the marketplace in Castle Town?”

“He’s got you there,” said Poppy.

“Tell you what,” the guard continued. “It’s clear there must be something strange going on, what with all this explosive lighting and Gerudo scimitar business. I’ll keep an eye out for anything strange, but in return, you can do me a favor. Have you ever heard of the Happy Mask Shop?”

Saria thought back to her time in Castle Town. The vague image of a colorful shop came to mind, but she never went inside.

“That sounds familiar…”

“It’s a new business in the market. Everyone’s talking about it! You must have seen my boy hanging out in the graveyard, right? He’s always pestering me for this really popular mask. Next time you head to town, maybe drop on by the shop and pick it up. You’d be doing me a huge favor.”

“Is there a reason you can’t get it yourself?” asked Poppy. The guard stared at her and gestured to the gate.

“I can’t just up and leave. My whole job is standing here and making sure the wrong people don’t pass through the gate. If I left my post without good cause, they’d hang me by my ankles until my face turned purple!”

“He’s got you there,” Saria said to Poppy with a smirk.

“Shush, you.”

“One more thing,” said the guard. “Try and be careful while you hike up the trail. Death Mountain isn’t just any ordinary mountain – it’s an active volcano! Sometimes it shoots whole chunks of rocks and hot magma out. That, and the locals are uh… Well, you’ll see, but they’re a bit careless as of late. Just be careful where you walk, all right?”

“Will do. Thank you, sir.”

“No, thank you Ms. Hero! Wah ha ha!”

As Saria walked off, Poppy floated after her and grumbled.

“I hate that guy.”

#The Legend of Zelda #Ocarina of Time #fanfiction #fanfic #alternate universe #alternate timeline #Saria #Anju #The Composer Brothers #Flat & Sharp #Kakariko Village #Hero of the Forest #dark content #my writing #writeblr

[createandconstruct]

summary: If it meant he could give to them all that the world had taken - all that they truly deserved - Ernst would give everything he possibly could.

Even this life together with them.

(An almost father and son, their almost family, and an almost normal evening, interrupted by an untimely flu.)

#86 #eighty six #86 eighty six #shinei nouzen #ernst zimmerman #frederica rosenfort #raiden shuga #theoto rikka #kurena kukumila #anju emma #everyone appears #sickfic #this is my magnum opus of father figure angst and hurt comfort #cc writes #my writing

[everythingsinred]

003 narumi

003

How I feel about this character: i made a vine comp for ga a while ago and i made fun of narumi a lot in it bc i think hes funny and someone commented "do u hate narumi?" (or smth along those lines). my answer is surprisingly no, i dont. it might seem that way, and my other answers on this post probably wont rly help, but i dont. i think hes fun and interesting and kinda creepy and altogether he makes a really enjoyable character. do i think hes a good person? HELL NO. i do make jokes with zoe about him being stupid bc we like having fun. hes not stupid really; some of his schemes are actually chilling.

Any/all the people I ship romantically with this character: only with misaki-sensei and hes on thin ice for that too. narumi having the human pheromone alice does not translate into him being romantic at all

My favorite non-romantic relationship for this character: its hard to say bc while i think sometimes its sweet when he has scenes with mikan, i kinda resent that shes really the only student he gives a single shit about. like dude u are a fucking teacher for an entire class of kids, not just your unrequited love's daughter.

My unpopular opinion about this character: older fics that describe narumi as "clearly gay" are rly funny bc hes so toxically heterosexual in canon. the fanfics were right; sometimes canon is a drag. i say this bc i sometimes feel like im the only person in the world who doesnt like romantic narumi and yuka. he should have just been gay and saved me all this trouble smh

One thing I wish would happen / had happened with this character in canon: i think the insidious side of his character is too well-hidden underneath his flamboyant attitude. he let mikan join the academy JUST so he could get to yuka again, knowing full-well that yuka wouldnt have wanted that and that mikan would be targeted. the fact that he says everything with a heart emoji isnt enough to disregard him as a darker character. i wish his darker side had been properly addressed instead of just brushed aside to focus on how QuiRky he is! or even worse, acting like he's always had good intentions and is a really good teacher who looks out for his students (when tbh hes never been)

Favorite friendship for this character: misaki is his friend, right? and i did think the alice stone galaxy chapter with yuka was cute so ill include her too. i just dont like narumi/yuka romantically

#thank u both for asking! #narumi is rly interesting #hes hard for me to analyze really #this reread that im currently on had me narrowing my eyes and being hyper observant of him bc i wanna figure him out all the way #but tbh i think i have to chalk some of his confusing characterization up to writing inconsistencies #maybe higuchi tachibana changed her mind about his darker side halfway through and thats why hes so bizarre. idk #like hes not a good person but i do like reading his scenes hes really such a fun character #gakuen alice #ga #im sorry for spamming this tag my friends. :( #narumi anju #ask games #answered #anon #anonymous #lucanogis

[shreyaajmani]

On Purpose

Vadehra Art Gallery

Vadehra Art Gallery is pleased to present a group exhibition by some of the most exciting names in contemporary Indian art and literature. The exhibition includes artists Anju Dodiya, Atul Bhalla, Gigi Scaria, Jagannath Panda, K.M. Madhusudhanan, Praneet Soi, Ranbir Kaleka, Shrimanti Saha, Sudhir Patwardhan, Sunil Gupta, Nalini Malani and Ashim Purkayastha and meaningful contributions by writers Jeet Thayil, Nonita Kalra, Shruti Kapur Malhotra, Meena Kandasamy, Janice Pariat, Manju Sara Rajan, Anindita Ghose, Akhil Katyal, Gayatri Rangachari Shah, Anish Gawande, Kabir Jhala and Shreya Ajmani alongside the powerful works, opening up the discourse of a white-cube space to interdisciplinary interventions.

On display from May 27 to July 10, 2023.

#Vadehra Art Gallery #Anju Dodiya #Indian Art #Writing #Text

[sakupanjuhime]

dropping the term depression to call it melancholic instead so that people finally see me as the poetic crybaby I am

#mental illness #writings #anju rambles #depression #poetic

[apricotsunsetromance]

Oh, to have to force myself to write and cringe through it...

I know it'll be worth it but gosh is it a pain 😂 I'm confident when I can write with another person! I enjoy the praise I receive when I write a wonderful post for my partner to read!!

BUT GOD DAMN IS WRITING FOR ME MYSELF AND I JUST PLAIN DIFFICULT!

#shouting into the void as I cry and sob my way through writing a super short TruAnj Drabble #😭 like come on the concept is gonna be fun!! #the princess #truanj #anju #dbz oc #the prince #oc x canon #future trunks x oc

[miladyh]

Four the Love of a Nutcracker

Summary: One Christmas in Hyrule, a girl buys herself a nutcracker with four colors. Before she knows it, mysterious things begin to happen around her. What is the secret of her new “friend”? And who is the one-eyed man who seems to know him? A Linked Universe x Nutcracker crossover. Four x Reader pairing.

Genre: Fluff, Light Hurt/Comfort, Romance

Rating: G

AO3 Link, if you prefer: https://archiveofourown.org/works/52453850

A/N: Hello! Welcome to the first fic I've written in a very, very long time! It will be multi-chapter; it will not be finished by Christmas. I don't have a lot of time available for writing right now, so I'm aiming for spring on this. Rest assured: it will be finished eventually. Next, I recommend you read The Nutcracker and the Mouse King by E.T.A. Hoffman (available in the public domain). While my story will not closely follow its plot, it will be fun if you can spot the references. ;) Lastly, have a Happy and Merry Christmas!

---

It was just the sort of evening you had hoped for. A small blaze crackled away in the fireplace, casting a cheerful glow across the floor. Shadows danced in the corners the light couldn't reach, darting and swaying with each pop of a log. A red armchair had been placed in front of the fire. Though it was bit threadbare in places, it was far less noticeable now than it had been in broad daylight. In the flickering firelight, it looked positively plush, inviting you into its soft embrace.

Placing a book and a mug of tea on the small table beside it, you surveyed your handiwork a final time before sitting. You had spent the better part of the day decorating your cottage for Christmas, and you were ready to rest. It had been several months now since you had come here. This land was quite foreign, but you had grown to love it. The people in town were friendly, and the scenery was pretty. You wondered what it would have been like to grow up in this place.

As you had worked and saved, you dreamed of how you might decorate a home of your own. Flowers in the spring and summer. Pumpkins and harvest wreaths in the fall. Fragrant greenery in winter. Candles everywhere (you were fond of candles and lanterns). As you pondered each season, you found yourself wondering about holidays. What was celebrated here? Were festivals a common occurrence, or were they on rare occasions? You had been quite curious about the local traditions. It was gratifying to find that this land also celebrated Christmas and in a very similar way to your own.

Naturally, your excitement was unmatched when you were able to afford a home. A small cottage on the edge of town: nothing large or fancy. However, it was now your home. It was a place of your own—no more staying at the local inn and being awakened by the sound of boots tromping through the hallways.

Your home – it had such a lovely sound to it. You had been settled for several weeks now, but the thought still brought a smile to your face. You had a home, it was in time for Christmas, and you had a quiet evening ahead of you. Yes, this was a peace you had craved for some time.

You settled yourself in your armchair, tugging a blanket over your legs (a wool blanket, of course—you had no desire to go up in flames. You were appreciative that Anju had gifted it to you). Curling yourself up comfortably, you glanced at the mantelpiece. Fresh greenery lined the edge, punctuated by sprigs of red berries. In the center, a wooden clock ticked quietly, flanked on either side by a pair of candles. It was simple but festive.

Your prized decoration, though, was the figure you had just purchased today: a colorful nutcracker. He looked quite charming standing on your corner bookcase, like he belonged there all along. Your thoughts drifted back to this morning. It had been an unusual day...

…...

The wind came suddenly. The first white flakes of winter had just begun to lazily make their way downward. The breeze, barely a whisper until now, rushed forth with renewed energy like a host eagerly welcoming his guests. For their part, the flakes saw fit to curtsy and bow, swirling around in a gavotte before whisking away to new ballrooms. They did not stand on ceremony.

As these harbingers of change greeted each other, the poor souls left on the street scrambled to find shelter. While wind and snow were all very well, they did not create favorable conditions for shopping.

It was far preferable to be indoors watching them rather than outdoors experiencing their bite.

The shop bell jingled merrily as you practically blew inside, and the wooden door banged shut behind you. You blew on your gloved hands, trying to shake off the cold the same way you had shaken off the snow. Glancing up, you noticed two or or three other customers who had clearly just arrived. They must have had the same idea you did: this would be a good place to wait until things quieted outside. Really, you had been planning to stop anyway, so it was rather fortuitous.

The shop was not large, but it had been packed to the brim with goods. Typical everyday items like plates, brooms, and pails were in one section. Another was filled with food items, like mushrooms and fresh eggs. Yet another held sundries like thread, sewing needles, and sturdy fabrics. You took your time browsing. There were all sorts of things from utilitarian to decorative, and you had plenty of time to work with.

“Oh!” You exclaimed as your eyes lighted on a tall cabinet in the corner. It had been stocked with new merchandise for Christmas: tins full of spiced sweets and sugared plums beckoned you forward, enticing you with the promise of rich flavors. Miniature evergreens made of dyed feathers created a small forest which any bird would be pleased to call home. Twisted glass that looked all the world like candy hung from special hooks, catching the light in their ridges.

To the right of the cabinet sat a small table stacked with bringers of light. Tin lanterns of various heights stood next to each other like a group of revelers. Each had a different pattern punched in it: moons, flowers, simple diamond shapes. Through them all, light twinkled like private constellations. Alongside these, clusters of candles lay neatly bundled, ready to be distributed and burned. The sweet scent of berries emanated faintly from them, carrying with it misty memories and nostalgic dreams.

You could have spent hours gazing at such beautiful things. There truly was a marvelous array of goods. As your gaze leisurely traveled over the shelves once more, a small cluster of wooden figures caught your attention. Upon closer inspection, you noticed that each one was painted differently. Some appeared to be soldiers, brass buttons gleaming down the front of their uniforms. Others showed their trade, such as a baker with his bread or a carpenter holding a saw. Still others were dressed for an activity, holding fishing rods, climbing gear, or even instruments. These were nutcrackers.

As you pored over them, a particular one caught your attention. It was nestled away in the corner, almost completely hidden. Gently moving aside the figurines, you picked it up. It was shorter and smaller than the others. You might not have noticed it at all but for the colorful tunic he was wearing. It was divided equally into four colors: blue, green, red, and violet, each with gold paint mimicking embroidery. Your gaze traveled upward, and you noted that the tunic culminated in a green hood with a tassel on the end. A sword sporting a single jewel in its hilt was strapped onto the back. Above this, carved strands of blond hair hung almost to the shoulders, a headband holding it back. The level of detail was astonishing. Whoever made him had clearly put their heart into it.

The only thing that you found a bit odd was the expression: it looked almost frightened, like a startled deer. Still, no matter. You very much liked him.

As you traced your finger over the figure's tunic, you heard footsteps behind you. In your peripheral vision, a tall figure leaned close. “That one is...quite unique, isn't he?” A bit surprised, you turned fully to look at the stranger. A well-built man, quite tall, and with middling-length blond hair smiled down at you. You immediately noticed the strange markings on his face and the scar over his right eye. You would have remembered such a face.

“Indeed,” you replied. “I've never seen one like him. I...enjoy all his colors.”

The man's eyes sparkled. “Oho! You do, do you?”

He offered no further commentary or explanation. You were unsure how to respond, so you abruptly decided to change the topic.

''...are you new here in town?” You ventured. “I'm certain I haven't seen you .”

“Not exactly. My companions and I have visited before, though we rarely stay more than a few weeks.”

“I see. I'm somewhat new here myself, but not enough that I can't make recommendations. I suggest you visit the bakery before leaving. I'm told they have a new holiday bread that shouldn't be missed. Even if you're familiar with everything, new things add spice to life.” Truth be told, you hadn't tried that bread yourself. Finances were a bit tight after buying your house. But everything from that bakery was delicious, so you had no doubt that you were doing the man a favor. “Oh, and please let me know if I can otherwise be of help.”

“I'll keep that in mind.”

As you moved to put the colorful nutcracker back on the shelf, the man quickly interjected. “Oh, no, I think you should buy him now.”

“What?”

“You should buy him. Take him home, set him up somewhere. It would be...a good experience for him.”

“A...good experience?” You were confused.

“Indeed. Just now, you offered to help me. You could be of great help to me by getting this fellow here.”

...why was he so interested? His insistence was certainly strange. You started to wonder if you had been too friendly when speaking with him. Though town was generally safe, you still had a sense of self-preservation. You hoped you hadn't gotten involved with someone sketchy. But, the sensible part of you reasoned, would a dangerous person really be pushing for someone to buy a general-store nutcracker, of all things? It didn't make sense. He didn't do anything wrong or threatening; he was just pushy. It was more likely he was eccentric. Perhaps he was some sort of artisan that couldn't bear to see good work go unpurchased.

“You seem quite concerned with this,” you replied slowly. “Is it something you've worked with before?” That was vague enough. You should be able to determine something based on his reply.

The man's face remained neutral, though it almost seemed he was holding back laughter. “Indeed, it is something I have worked with before. Though I wouldn't call him my work.”

“What is your work, if I may ask?”

“In the past, I...” he chuckled. “Let's just say it involved time.”

Apparently, the man spoke in riddles. You wondered if the companions he mentioned dealt with this on a regular basis.

“Time...” The answer struck you. “Oh, like repairing clocks!” That would make sense. He would be able to discern quality woodworking, which would explain the pushiness.

His eyes twinkled. “Something like that.”

The man straightened. Something in his demeanor told you the conversation was ending. “If you need my assistance for anything, my friends and I are staying at the inn. Call me 'Time'. We may see each other in town again. ”

“And I really do advise you to buy him. You said yourself that new things can spice up your life. I guarantee that he will keep things interesting. But if you leave him now, he'll be gone in the blink of an eye.” With a friendly nod, he began to walk away.

You looked down again at the nutcracker. Just now, you had the distinct impression that he was glaring. You blinked. No, that couldn't be; the expression had not changed. It must simply be your own imagination, a passing fancy.

What a strange one the man with the scar had been. He had talked about this figure almost as if it was a real person. Perhaps that was the eccentricity of an artist.

You gazed thoughtfully at the decoration in your hands. Well, why not purchase him? You had budgeted for a few decorations, and he did catch your eye, after all. Carrying him firmly in your arms, you made your way to the front counter. Judging by the color of the sky, you'd be in here longer than you originally suspected. You might as well have a “friend” to spend it with.

….......

Returning to the present, you directed a glance at your “friend”.

“You're my first real guest, you know,” you said humorously. You had had visitors, of course, but each time had been brief. As of yet, no one had spent a whole evening in your company. Surely it wouldn't hurt to play a little and pretend he was a real visitor. “I'm sorry I can't offer you any food—you are a only decorative, after all. I would be a terrible host if I accidentally broke my guest's teeth on a nut.”

He looked a bit miffed at being called “decorative”, but he seemed relieved at your final sentence. (Of course, there was no way his expression could really have changed. This pretending business was rather fun, once you got down to it.)

“But,” you continued. “I can offer you a bit of entertainment.”

Picking up the book you had set out, you quickly flipped to the page at which you had stopped. This was one of your favorite stories. After briefly explaining the plot (you had to admit you felt a bit silly explaining it to an inanimate object), you began to read aloud.

The clock on the mantle ticked steadily and the fire crackled as your voice droned on. The occasional lilt and jump gave expression to the characters. It was a magical thing. Reading aloud made you feel so alive. You whiled away the evening in this pleasant manner, peeking up at your “guest” every once in a while. You must say, he did seem interested. You smiled slightly to yourself. What an imagination.

Directing a glance at the clock, you noted it was a bit earlier than you usually retired. Still, you had worn yourself out. It had been a long day, and all you wanted now was sleep. You carefully placed your book on the table beside you and carried your now-empty mug to the sink. Returning to your previous spot, you made quick work of banking the fire, making sure the coals would smolder through the night. While you could let it burn out, this had become a routine. Your mind had learned that as the fire slept, so could you.

You straightened up and stretched, taking one last look at your “guest”. As the firelight had dimmed, he had become more of a shadowy outline than anything else. Still, he cut a handsome figure. You smiled faintly. “We'll continue the story tomorrow. Thank you for your company. I'll see you in the morning.”

As you slowly trudged upstairs to your room, you blew out the few remaining candles. You didn't notice the faint light in the room behind you, gently emanating from the nutcracker.

(Chapter 1 of ??)

#linked universe #linkeduniverse #linked universe x reader #lu four #lu four x reader #milady’s fanfiction #fanfiction #linked universe four #lu x reader #linked universe four x reader #christmas #crossover #lu hyrule #lu time #lu wild #lu wind #lu warriors #lu legend #lu sky #lu twilight #lu chain #nutcracker au

[jullbnt]

Hello :D besides Zelink, are there any other loz ships you ship? :3

Oh hello thanks for asking!! I guess I'm going to disappoint you though cause I don't really ship anyone else? Besides Zelink variations such as Shink or Hylink of course (I'm dying to draw something with Hylia and the Fierce Deity... I love that stuff 🥹)

I guess the only couple that comes to my mind is Anju and Kafei, but they're canon so 😅. I'm not exactly obsessed with them either but their quest is my all time favorite (pretty sure I’m not the only one). Also I'm convinced Kafei is meant to be Link's equivalent in Termina with, you know, his whole business of being an adult trapped in the body of a child and being torn apart from his love because of it. A bit of a stretch maybe but I can't unsee the parallel with OoT Zelink!! So yeah they're meaningful to me but for Zelink related reasons again...

As for the main characters I'm not really interested in Link or Zel being with anyone else. I understand that some people can find these two cliché/boring/forced or whatever, but for me seeing them as soulmates/eternal lovers makes their stories so much better and emotional (I'm also really into the "union of wisdom and courage against absolute power" symbolism, I wish the Triforce would be brought back in the games for that reason).

That being said I don't mind some other ships, mostly Malink (I love Malon and can definitely see her with Link if Zelda is not an option), Midzel (cause I've seen some amazing fanart and it kinda makes sense to me, I much prefer it to Midlink) or Link/Marin (but I see it as some sort of dream version of ALttP Zelink so...). I'm not actively looking for that stuff and am not interested in drawing it cause I'll always prefer Zelink, but I don't mind stumbling upon it.

I guess the one ship I really don't like is Sidlink? Or anything with Link and a Zora character really (yeah sorry haha). Also Ganlink/Zelgan tend to make me a bit uncomfortable (except if Ganon is portrayed as a good guy but that’s still not really my thing). Same for any villains, I'm just boring like that I guess

Oh also. Ilia. I don't dislike her as a character but I hated how she was forced on Link in TP (like most people I suppose?)

And that's all I have to say? I didn't think I would end up writing that much, sorry for rambling a bit 😇

(and also for my English. I'm always a bit nervous when I write something long)

In case this wasn't obvious I very much enjoy talking about LoZ so feel free to ask me anything haha 😁

#ask #good question!! #loz #shipping #zelink #rambles #zelda

[scummy-writes]

Scum talks about OCs

In this I'm just going to go over my Ocs in sections of their own. I'm not really using a special Oc template, I'm just talking about them and what fics they appear in, because to be blunt, I do write 'reader inserts', but some fics are written with these ocs in mind even if they're not detailed out specifically.

I'm just chatting about for fun, this will not change how I write currently. I would not expect fanfics about these characters specifically.

Amélie - Drawn by @beni-draw-ikemen-please. (Full picture is her in a chair with Isaac sittin on the arm of it, and Arthur resting his head on her lap <3 I love it)

Anju, made with a Picrew here. I think her expression is a bit too gentle here, and she would mainly wear warmer yellows or cool toned blues, not the shirt in the image.

SS from Prince of my WIP OC for it, since she's fuckin impossible to make on picrews. Her current name is Constance.

I am honestly surprised people showed some interest in this, so bear with me through my bumbling please. A lot of these say 'mc' but they are 'reader insert' fics still. Previous fandoms had 'mc' interchangable with 'reader' so...

If you have any questions, feel free to ask, just know I might not have all the answered.

╰❧ Amélie

Amélie has been around for a few years, and Beni has been a saint for letting me comm her to draw her. Because of this, I was able to make a character profile for her Here. Additionally, a much older one Here that details some vague things about her past, and including her past with Sebastian (Childhood friends).

-> Fanfics she has been 'in': Breathless Discoveries (Isaac/Mc), Mental Gravity (Isaac/Mc), Blessed Accidents (Isaac/Mc), Exercise in Restraint (Isaac/Mc), Temptations (Arthur/Mc), A Helping Hand (Arthur/Mc), His (Theo/Mc), Playful Punishments [vaguely] (Isaac/Mc/Arthur), Midnight Impulses [Vaguely] (Isaac/Mc/Arthur), Musings (Isaac/Mc), Oral Prompt with Isaac, First Steps (Isaac/Mc), The Talk (Isaac/Mc), The Shirt Thief (Isaac/Mc), Isaac Overworking (Isaac/Mc/Arthur), Awkward Dates (Isaac/Mc), and likely some other small drabbles I have missed...!

─❧ Summary: (Brief mentions of abuse/SA/Trauma but not explicit details)

A lot of her general background is covered in the second character profile I linked above. It sounds vague, and well! That is because it is a bit traumatic. I don't want to gloss over the fact that she has been through a lot, primarily SA, but I don't like focusing entirely on it to where that is the Only thing about her. Her previous job was ... an 'idol'? I never fleshed it out fully, due to self embarassment, but I wanted her to be a singer with a 'small' following, who got connected with shitty producers and signed a contract way too young without understanding the full implications of it, which caused most of her money to not actually be Hers. Due to her parents strongly against her career choice, going as far as rushing a contract ended up having her cut off from her family. With Sebastian gone, her support network disappeared completely.

She Vaguely goes over this in Patchworked Pieces (be mindful of tags), which was supposed to be a full fanfic detailing her story, but I am not meant for long fanfics at all so I posted what scenes I had typed enough with. on the chapter On Failed Attempts, she details a bit more of her experiences.

How she met Comte was through the normal opening of visiting the muesuem. She did it under distress and wanting a distraction, she was weighing options and considing some pretty awful things! I like to think Comte could tell she was beside herself and trying to calm down a little. I like to think he could sense the distress and the thing she was contemplating, and led her back to the mansion.

Which! Is rocky. She's terrified of everyone, until she sees Sebastian, and he helps ease her into her mansion life. She never tells Sebastian what she went through, due to worries and fears that he would manage to blame himself. So in her story, he never finds out.

Isaac is the primary person who knows some details, but not everything. She'd tell both him and Arthur some bare minimums, just so that when things got intimate, her panic attacks for 'random' reasons wouldn't make them believe it was because of them.

As for how they all entangle with each other? Well... Amélie is not what brings them together, necessarily.

Before she arrives, Arthur attempts to get close to Isaac. It is platonic at first, perhaps he had a crush on him but waves it off. But alcohol is introduced, they start 'drinking' together (Isaac is still a lightweight so he barely builds up his tolerance, mostly keeps Arthur some company), and...They get too tipsy and adventurous with each other. Arthur gets ashamed immediately. Not out of doing things with another man, because it was clear he was using Isaac to get over some trauma. So he avoids, hides, and their friendship crumbles.

And after that is when Amélie stumbles into the mansion.

Her friendship with Isaac is the most prevelant. And after getting on a better start with Arthur, they end up slowly getting entangled with each other. Isaac, unfortunately, deals with the brunt of her panic attacks. Finds scars, attempts to heal them.

It's through healing that they all twine together. Helping each other face their traumas, face what happened between them all.

Ironically, her love for singing was bounced in and out of the story. I wanted a few scenes where she tries to play in one of the many secluded rooms in the mansion- finds an old piano while cleaning, places a few notes. But I don't think she'd be able to any time soon. I think she would need a break for a year or two, before she started exploring music again. Or anything super creative.

I like to imagine that she is friends with a majority of the residents. When she is faring better, she paints with Leonardo and Vincent. She listens to Mozart play, reads what Dazai and Arthur write, so on so forth. I want her to live in a house with Arthur and Isaac, later on, visiting the mansion weekly or every two weeks, happy with her new life.

Sometimes I pair her with Theo, because I think they could help each other, but I think she is fated to be with Isaac and Arthur.

In AUs, I like to imagine Anju as her older friend. Anju does not tolerate a lot of bullshit with Amélie, and would be a bit like a guard dog. But. an unassuming one. She would treat Arthur very harshly until he proves himself. (I am unsure if I ever posted it, but I wrote a few chapters to go with This Au Fic for Isaac week. The second chapter, Anju was supposed to be a witch to help Amélie out after some events [was gonna have Isaac die and then it turn into a reincarnation au thing where they meet again in modern day, and in modern day Anju was gonna be around], and Anju has to help her move forward.)

I've been typing this on and off for a few hours and I am struggling with some details HAHA for now, I will stop here. She's the one OC that has a lot out there for her.

Oh. Amélie is not her 'real' name, but it is now. I am unsure if it is in poor taste or not, but in an attempt to heal she abandoned a lot of her old life. Not Herself, but trying to let go of the past until she could confront it more. She goes by Amélie until the end of her days, and only Sebas and likely Comte know her old name.

╰❧ Anju

-> Fanfics she's been 'in': Training Theo (Theo/Reader)

─❧ Summary: (Vague mentions of parental issues)

OoooOOoooOh Anju....anju....wails.

She is such a complicated Oc for me. She was originally for Shingen in ikes*n (i dont want this on the tags on accident). I still debate if the character she is now still stems from that relationship or not. Because if so, that means she left the past and came back to the present because her and Shingen didn't work out. Not in a TERRIBLE way but probably a sad mutual understanding.

It's either that, or she's just pretty sour from general past relationships not working out.

I like to imagine that she is in her thirties, and that she lives in a neighborhood where everyone knows each other in friendly ways. She is a 'seamstress' just due to how Sengoku has that set up for the Mc. I decied that her grandmother taught her how to sew, and her grandmother owned a small shop to repair peoples clothes and sew clothes for commission as well (i know nothing about how this works so). She would help her grandmother at her shop, and later on when her grandmother passed, she would take over the shop.

As for her parents, I never fully fleshed them out. I just know her mother was constantly comparing herself to other children/people around her, and that their relationship dissolved to the point of Anju refusing to aknowledge her as a mother any longer. The crux of this would cause Anju to move the shop to a different location completely to sever ties. (not move physically, but open another shop elsewhere after funds were saved with the same name).

For Vamp, she relocates her ass to France for Reasons. And here is where it is... well. I don't think a shop like this could exist, but i wish it would. pls spare me from laughs HAHA

The shop I always imagined is the type where the ground floor is the shop, and upstairs is where Anju lives. So upstairs would house her kitchen, living room, and Bedroom and bathroom, a balcony connected to the kitchen would be. great. Lower floor would have the shop, her sewing area, a room to hang up comms and etc, and the 'front' of the shop. Front of the shop is the porch and the actual like...foyer area....of the shop.

She spends a lot of her time sitting in the foyer area at a desk, if she is not actively working on sewing. .....I like to imagine she has a small sitting area set up there for people (children, family, friends, partners, etc) waiting while whoever she is working on measurements and etc with is getting their stuff. With....a lil coffee/tea area....very very small like a coffee maker and some stuff....but cozy vibes... (and she wanted a coffee machine near her while working).

She'll sit on the porch often in the mornings while waiting for customers or going through shop bills and whatever, and that is how she meets Arthur in a modern day setting. By him taking 'Vic' (or whatever pet he is on now) on a walk, Vic escaping, and running up to Anju because he wants pets HAHA.

For first meeting, Anju thinks Arthur is cute, but recognizes the fuckboy tendances. However, i feel like at this point of living as a vampire for so long, Arthur wouldn't be how he is in the game currently. As in, not entirely as self destructive and a smidgen more at peace with himself, but still has the tendencies. She doesn't think too much on the meeting, loves Vic though, and goes from there...

But Arthur doesn't. He gets hung up on her a little, and finds excuses to run into her a bit more. Nothing crazy, but primarily just walking Vic by there and seeing if he can catch her on the porch again, waving, exchanging greetings and pets for Vic. It would turn into him eventually finding an excuse to get some clothing mended, which she can very easily tell is bullshit, but she entertains it because... he's respectful the whole time. She enjoys the company and the innocent flirting.

It comes to a clusterfuck when they spot each other at a bar though. Where he sees how differently she's dressed, where it's clear she's looking for one night stands and nothing else. (He is also alarmed at her smoking HAHA). Arthur doesn't do much with this information, but she immediately tries shutting him out because. Well, she isn't ashamed to have casual sex with others, but she doesn't want the fuckboy tendancies to come back for him. She doesn't want this fake relationship to delve into sex and nothing more. So she puts up walls, and Arthur has to slowly take them down. And it is a rocky thing, because Anju is so independant and refuses to rely on anyone else, so it's a LOT of trouble HAHA a lot of dramatics.

They do fuck, because well they both enjoy sex so why not!!!!! but ah. it's complicated. I think I have a scene of that somewhere. I cannot remember if I have that happen before or after him visiting her home/shop at night when he's drunk. I think it was before.

But Arthur was supposed to go to her place, drunk, because she has such a schedule with her shop/hobbies that it's easy to piece together that she's home, and she essentially lets him stay over in pity because he's wailing about messing up his friendship with Theo.

From there it turns into awkward, more up in the air things. I played with her getting with Arthur only, Theo only, Arthur and Theo, or even Vincent! But the Arthur/Theo subplot would have been too similar to the Isaac/Arthur one in Amélie's story. (Sorry for causing you so much distress, Arthur).

I like to imagine her in her shop. Arthur flirting with her while the neighborhood granny laughs at her attempts to ignore the flirting.

╰❧ Constance

-> Fanfics she's been 'in': Sinking (Gilbert/Reader) [Descriptions of Self Harm], First Time (Gilbert/Reader), Chev comforts Mc

─❧ Summary: (Mentions of self harm, abuse)

Constance....! Is still a running name. I may change it, I may not. I'm unsure about her appearance, I know I want her to have the split hair and to dress in similar colors though, but her eyecolor I am so conflicted on...

But...! Her story is still being fleshed out, and she has changed a lot. She is now strictly for Gilbert, whereas she was supposed to be a flexible oc for either Clavis or Gilbert. (Maybe she still could be?)

So far, her story is still like Emma's so far. her and Rio friends for years, Akatsuki taking her in, etc. In my mind, she doesn't know who her parents are and is somewhat in peace of that.

I've bounced around a lot with her though, to where the Rio and Akatsuki being in her BG makes little sense. i've wanted her to be someone who writes and sings, but does not preform and instead has a friend that preforms for her. Where they have private sessions of Constance singing and exampling some of the dancing to her friend, and later on watching her friend preform the songs and bringing her visions to life. (i like this a lot but it feels...odd.)

I want her carrying a notebook around the palace, filled with her drawings and songwriting. Far in the journal, there is drawings of Gilbert- not because she knows him, but because long before she saw him slinking around Rhodolite and drew him out of facination of how he looked (did not piece together he was a Scary Dude). (would add a lot of fuel to fire if anyone saw those drawings COUGHS)

In another bouncing, I have her as a secret wrtier/artist that writes songs that are never preformed. I thought it would be funny if she wrote the erotica that Jin apparently reads??? I can never fgure out if thats canon or not because i never see it Mentioend in the game.

In both possible backgrounds for her, she is still a quiet and reserved person who suffers from a lot of depression, and struggles with herself a lot. The two toned hair was for fun at first, but now I'm realizing it would probably be a good symbol for her inner issues. How she has a lot of 'darkness' inside of her, that she feels disgusted by and upset with, while there is a purity she wishes she had (but fails to come to terms with how that is unreasonable).

To be paired with Clavis, she was supposed to be much more shy, and his antics were supposed to draw her out of her shell more.

But now it's more solidifies that she will be primarily paired with Gilbert due to the purity/darkness thing. She is a little dramatic in her thoughts with that, and is now a bit more serious toned rather than her shyness being played for antics.

She believes Gilbert over his refusal to 'lie', and that draws her in a lot.

Discussion of self harming/SA, when text is blue I am finished.

Something I am struggling with is that with many Ocs, i often have them go through some sexual trauma just due to it being an outlet for myself (i have also had sexual trauma). This may be why you see some themes of this in some fanfics I write, where there is something the reader is struggling with sexually and the suitor is extremely patient with them- it's usually tied to stuff like this (unsure of how obvious that is since no one ever says anything! which feels like an act of kindness, if it is obvious).

For her, I am struggling with adding that into her background as something that is fairly recent with her. Rio doesn't know, she refuses to tell him, and his fondness of her and constantly...hm...i don't mean this poorly, but building her up to be so 'perfect' sometimes causes a lot of issues when she reflects on herself, and she uses those words against herself often.

I don't know if the self harm would be. Due to that SA event or not. I don't know if this is soemthing that has plagued her for years, or if it spiked as her emotions got out of control.

Gilbert would not know. I don't really care if JP spoilers suggest otherwise, as there are already hints that make it clear he doesn't know Everything (he just knows a Lot). A lot of their relationship would be them struggling with self harm and the SA. A lot of her trust gets put into him (even if she dislikes it), because he doesn't lie to her like others do, and it is a comfort. (blah blah gilbert does lie blah blah)

It's hard to explain their relationship. I assume i'll have more figured out as his route comes out. Right now, she's who I imagine when I write some stuff with him, but not all of it.

With Clavis, the relationship would have been more healthy, and so would she. I think she would still struggle with both things, as it could be used as a mutual understanding when they discuss needing to be loved fully and not half-heartedly.

That is a rough gist of what I have for her? I have been typing this for hours and I am running out of steam.

Annnd....That is that! At least for now. Another detail I will share for all of them is that they are all bi :) All my ocs are always bi.

Again, you guys are free to ask questions. I may update this over time as well. I don't really want criticisms for my ocs though since you guys don't actually deal with them past them popping up as the voice for some reader insert fics. they just sorta rot in my brain and I get comms of them at times.

#scums babs

[meanlesbean]

Here, have 1,400 words of Majora's Mask angst. inspired by a conversation with @gintrinsic-writing about Link having to pick and choose who to help on the final cycle. I'll put this on my ao3 in a few days when I think of a title. (Edit: better ao3 version up now)

————————————————

On the afternoon of the final day, the Milk Bar is empty.

Madame Aroma won’t arrive for another few hours. In twenty minutes, one of the members of the town guard will show up, but he won’t stay long. He’ll order one of the special drinks that Mister Barten won’t let Link try, chug it all in one big gulp, and then lay his head down on the counter to weep quietly for four and a half minutes. When he’s finished crying, he’ll ask for a shot of something off the top shelf—surprise him, just this once. Then, after his last drink, he’ll shake Mister Barten’s hand, put his helmet back on, and leave.

Unlike some of the other guards, he won’t abandon his post. When the moon falls and swallows the world, he’ll bear witness to the end from his station at the town entrance. 

Right now, it’s just Link and Tatl at the counter. Mister Barten is sweeping up on the stage, and he’s got the phonograph playing some soft piano music instead of the usual Indigo-Go’s songs, which Link is grateful for. Mister Barten isn’t as talkative as he usually is, but Link hasn’t been able to figure out if it’s because it’s the final day or if it’s because Link won’t talk himself. Either way, it’s quiet. The nice kind of quiet too, unlike the Stock Pot Inn, which gets creepy after Anju and her family evacuate. Even with everyone gone, the floorboards don’t stop creaking. 

It’s a good place for thinking and planning. That’s the most important thing left for him to do.

Or at least, that’s what Link thinks. Tatl has other ideas. 

“Are you going to squeeze in an afternoon nap or what?” She buzzes around him like an insect. Link’s adrenaline from the battle against Twinmold had worn off by the time they got back to Clock Town, but Tatl always takes longer to settle after a fight. She lands on the counter to take a small sip of her Chateau Romani, kindly poured into the smallest shot glass in the bar by Mister Barten, and then flies a few more laps around his head. “If you don’t go to bed soon, you won’t be rested before the reset, and I know you’ll stay up with Romani instead of sleeping the next night. I don’t want to be rescuing my brother while you’re in one of your moods.”

Link waves a hand out to get her to stop circling. He gives her a pointed look and then taps the end of his pencil against his open bomber's notebook twice. It’s a portion of his records of the first day, near illegible now with how much information he’s crammed onto the pages. That’s why he’s got a few clean sheets of paper ripped out and put to the side. If this is really the final reset, he can’t afford to waste time with indecision. 

“Huh?” Tatl says. She floats over the notebook to examine it, washing out the pages in her golden light. She flutters and makes an annoyed chiming noise. “What are you getting at now? There can’t be anything else to add on here. You’ve stalked everyone in Termina long enough already.” 

Link shakes his head and holds out his hand. Tatl lands on his palm, her magic tickling at his skin like the sparks from a light arrow, and he lifts her up to his shoulder. His posture relaxes as soon as she sits, the warm buzz of her magic trickling down through his chest and back. An ache he hadn’t noticed in his upper back disappears. It still feels a little weird sometimes, having her nestled in the crook of his neck. The first time her wing had brushed against his neck, he’d almost hit her on reflex, and she didn’t talk to him for the whole day after. Navi had always preferred to perch on top of his head. 

On one of the clean pages, Link lists out all the hours, from six o’clock to five o’clock the next morning. He repeats this for the next page. For the last one, he adds an extra hour at the end and draws the moon and its hungry maw.  Next, he circles Romani’s name in his notebook. On his new timetable, he writes her name between the hours of two and five in the morning. 

He knows that Tatl understands because he feels her go still, then huddle closer to him. Still, he flips through the notes he’s taken, over two dozen pages, for emphasis. Some of his notes are about the temples—he hadn’t made it through the Snowhead or Great Bay temples on his first attempts—but even excluding those, there’s too much. 

Tatl doesn’t speak. In his notebook, Link sees Pamela’s name, and he circles it like he’d done for Romani. When he looks at his timetable though, he pauses. He and Tatl have restored the flow of the Ikana creek and healed Pamela’s father three times: once very late into the night of the second day, once in the morning of the first day, and once more in the evening of the first day. From what Link can tell, Pamela doesn’t sleep well when her father is cursed, and that means Link can free her father at any time.

Pamela needs her father. He knows that, even if he doesn’t fully understand it. She’s young and scared and alone, and Link shouldn’t make her wait. When he looks at the blank time slots of the first day though, all he can see is dozens of other things he needs to do. If he’s going to reunite Anju and Kafei, he needs to spend the afternoon in Clock Town so can talk to Anju. And while he’s in town, it only makes sense for him to help the Great Fairy and go solve the argument in the mayor’s office. He should free at least one of the Giants on that first day too—he can make his way through the temples pretty quickly now, but he couldn’t rush the battles against the beasts holding the Giants captive. Potions and fairies don't work as well when he doesn't sleep. He’d learned the hard way that one little mistake in those battles could take him hours to recuperate from. 

His hand holding the pencil is frozen above the paper. Link stares at the blank pages. 

He feels Tatl release a tiny, quivering breath. Her wings flicker against him a few times as she leans forward. “Okay. We’re not going back to the Stone Tower on the first day. I need a break from that horrible place, and you need to get at least some sleep before going there again. You can take a nap in Romani’s bed, or in Epona’s stall since you’re a little freak, after we defend the ranch. We’ll go to Ikana and free Pamela’s dad and the Giant afterwards. Got it?”

Link nods and picks up the pencil. He gives himself two hours to sleep, then blocks off the rest of the morning for fixing Ikana. Tatl lets out a little ringing noise in approval, then says, “So, we’re going through the whole ordeal of getting Anju and Kafei back together, right?” He nods again. “Okay, then write Anju’s name in the two and eleven thirty times slots.” He does. “We need to go to the ranch and talk to Romani at some point during the day. Let’s do that at five so we can stay for dinner. We can go to the cucoo shack before eating too. Helping Grog always makes you smile.”

Link puts down the pencil. Before Tatl can scold him, he brings his hand up to where she's perched, and he closes his eyes and presses her closer against him. Tatl shifts a bit, and then she wraps both her small arms around his hand. He trembles, and she doesn’t say anything. 

She lets him hold her like that for a minute before she starts pushing him away. “Move your hand, would ya? I can’t read anything like this.”

Link pulls away from her and picks up the pencil again. Tatl pats his shoulder. It feels like raindrops. “Okay, let’s finish filling in the first day. You ready?”

When Link nods, it's the truth. 

“Good. We’ve got this.”

Link believes her.

#majora's mask #loz fanfic #legend of zelda #legend of zelda fanfiction #loz fic #my fic

[skyloftian-nutcase]

Final Hour (Linked Universe fanfic)

(@artisticgamer, @ludoluck sorry I keep forgetting to tag you guys for my writing)

Inspired by @kikker-oma's amazing Fierce Deity art. Love your talent and your creativity, Oma! <3

Summary: When everything goes horribly wrong, Time desperately attempts everything in his power to fix it. Wind instead chooses to be the self sacrificing Hero, but the end result isn't what Time expected it to be.

(AO3 link)

The clocktower tolled.

He saw her. He saw Zelda standing in front of him, sad and beautiful and aged beyond her years, just like him. He saw her morose smile, the tears threatening to spill from her eyes, her steady resolve despite it all. He saw her play the ocarina as she grew ever smaller and farther away while his hand reached out desperately for her.

The clocktower tolled.

He saw her. He saw Malon smiling sweetly at him, bright and beautiful and innocent, like how he used to be. He saw the freckles on her cheeks pull as she giggled and called him by that nickname she’d made up a lifetime ago. He saw her eyes grow fierce with a desire for adventure as she worked with an unruly mare. He saw her twirl as they danced together.

The clocktower tolled.

He saw them. He saw Anju and Kafei’s love and desperation and acceptance in their eyes as they held each other, as she said they’d greet the morning together while his hand held hers in a white knuckled grip. He saw them tremble as he turned and ran outside.

The clocktower tolled.

He saw them. He saw the Heroes of Hyrule, how they were all young, experienced, hurt, filled with power and hope and light. He saw how they emanated a strength that couldn’t be quantified, an inherent resolve and determination to their core that shone through and resonated between each and every one of them, a shared bond and unbreakable spirit. He saw their uniqueness, their wonder, their gifts and quirks.

And he saw them fall, one by one.

The clocktower tolled.

They’d been wounded. They’d been weak. They’d just fought multiple hordes and had been desperately trying to get to the nearest village. They’d known it hadn’t been far, from the forest they could hear the bells of a clocktower in a nearby town.

There had been a split in the path. Time had chosen the route.

The clocktower tolled.

This wasn’t supposed to happen. It couldn’t happen.

The black blooded dragon roared again, held at bay by the few still standing. He heard a scream, and a body collapse on the ground. He couldn’t even tell who was still standing anymore; he’d been one of the last to fall. Nearly everyone had stilled, no longer writhing in agony or sheer force of will.

Except for Wind.

The sailor groaned as he desperately crawled forward, reaching above Time, whose hand was overhead as he’d been grabbing desperately at one of his items when he fell, as he’d been willing to throw his life, sanity, everything away in a frantic attempt to fix this.

The wooden mask barely was within his grasp, propped by a finger.

Despite the severity of the situation, despite the cold silence of his companions, despite the clocktower ringing in his ears, a reminder of time after time of facing death and life and everything in between as his entire journey flashed before his eyes, he wanted to save Wind from this. The mask was too dangerous for anyone else. What good would such a victory do if the child was lost to the darkness?

“Please, Wind… no.”

He had other methods he could call on.

He had other items he could use.

The Hero of Time was nothing if not relentless. He never gave up. Never. Not even now, not even when he was bleeding to death, when the world around him blurred and dulled, when his mind was screaming and running into the past rather than focusing on the present. Not even now. He’d spent a lifetime perfecting three days over and over and over until he could get everything right and save everyone. He refused to let this be any different.

“You said…” Wind pleaded desperately, his voice trembling, tears and blood and phlegm rolling down his face from what little of it Time could see. With a hiccup, he continued, “You said it’s for emergencies, right? It’s okay, I’ll save you!”

I’ll save you. A last, desperate, pleading promise. The others couldn’t be saved, but Time was still here.

Time’s hands fumbled around his belt, desperately searching for the item he needed.

The clocktower tolled. The dragon roared again, any obstacle between it and the last pair of heroes long gone.

The mask slipped from Time’s finger, a rough disappearance as if it had been pulled.

“Sailor,” he tried again, his voice barely above a whisper, his world spinning and fading fast. He had to move.

Wind screamed.

The noise jolted Time out of his stupor, adrenaline feebly trying to awaken what little life essence he had left in him. He had enough energy to look up and see a figure towering over him where Wind originally had been crawling.

The monster bore Wind’s curls, bleached white. It bore Time’s armor, with a decorative fairy pendant dangling in the breeze as it stood stock still. Wind’s face was older, chiseled, once-chubby cheeks pulled taught over cheekbones that shouldn’t be so developed. Its eyes glowed, contrasting the purple and blue markings that cut across its face.

The Fierce Deity.

Time let out a desperate breath, unable to speak anymore, and watched helplessly as the cursed mask made Wind’s possessed body march across the field towards the dragon that awaited him. He couldn’t see the fight, but he could hear it. He heard the grunts, deeper than they should be, the fierce battle cries, the screeches from the dragon as its opponent landed cut after cut. He breathed hastily, feeling his heart quicken, feeling his body begin to grow numb, and he again searched desperately on his belt for the one thing that could change everything.

Warriors was gone. Sky was gone. Four was gone. Legend was gone. Hyrule was gone. Wild was gone.

Twilight was gone.

Time was going to be damned if he would let Wind fall in the worst way possible.

The clocktower tolled.

The dragon screamed, and the earth shook.

And then everything grew silent.

Time gasped for air, trying to raise his head, wanting to call for the young sailor, for the brightest ray of sunshine in the group, for the one last surviving member.

He couldn’t move.

So this is how I meet death? He wondered. On the verge of tears, an utter failure to all who depended on me?

He remembered the people of Termina. He remembered how they all faced death in their own ways. He thought of Cremia and Romani, of Anju and Kafei.

Goddesses. He missed Malon so desperately right now.

Heavy footsteps approached him, and he blinked, the world coming back into focus long enough for his body to scream that he couldn’t take any more of this. A blurry image hovered over him, and he squinted, confused, until his mind registered who he was staring at, and his hands finally found the item they’d been searching for.

The Fierce Deity knelt down slowly, eyes fixed on him. When his knees sank into the ground, he reached slowly, sliding a hand behind Time and pulling him into a seated position. Time cried out in pain with the motion, and the cursed deity paused only a moment before reaching his other hand towards the Hero of Time’s fumbling hands, pulling the ocarina from their grasp. Time tried to protest, tried to fight against his possessed successor’s hold, but he was too weak to do anything. Then amethyst rose into his periphery, and he looked down to see the Ocarina of Time hovering in front of his lips.

“Play, Link,” the Fierce Deity said, Wind’s higher voice pitched into a deeper timber and holding power and energy the boy didn’t usually possess. “Save them, as you always do.”

Time stared at the deity, his fears and thoughts stolen away. The pair was frozen for a moment, the world pausing around them, time itself holding its breath in anticipation. A gentleness fell over the cursed deity’s face, and Time felt the thumb behind his back caress him once, ever so softly. Understanding slid between the two, a heavy, bone deep realization that dug into Time’s mind more than he could fathom in the moment, a certainty and safety and assurance and comfort that he'd somehow always felt but always ignored. He let out a shaky exhale and, with trembling hands, took the ocarina from the Fierce Deity.

And he played.

The world turned white.

Time felt warmth engulf him, like an embrace from tender arms. Magic sparkled inside his mind and heart, a familiar friend, singing and resonating with his song like fairies humming together, a melody entwined in mystery and grace. His horizon shifted, and he was on his feet, set there gently as if floating through the air. The warmth spread from his core to his extremities, the numbness in his fingers dissipating, the stabbing pain of his own armor piercing his gut dulling into nothingness. The blood on him washed away with invisible waters, and an airless breeze blew the dirt off his body. He continued to play, the melody growing steadier as his strength returned, his determination steeling him, tightening his weakened muscles and bringing an assurance that he hadn’t felt since Termina.

Save them, as you always do.

Oh, the countless times he’d played this hymn, this spell, this prayer. Oh, the countless times he’d clung to it desperately as he tried again, the numerous times he’d played it in tears at his failure, the many times he’d nearly belted it in fortitude as he prepared with renewed hope and a plan in place.

Save them, Link.

“Really, old man? You’re playing your ocarina right now? We have wounded, we need to get moving.”

Time’s eyes snapped open at the sound of Legend’s voice.

They were all there, tired and hurt but alive. Sky was leaning against Hyrule, eyes half closed but body stiff with stubbornness, while Hyrule held him with a fierce protectiveness. Legend was watching him impatiently, scraped and bruised but relatively unharmed and clearly anxious to get help for the others. Four and Warriors were bringing up the rear, watching everyone’s backs and growing ever more confused by the turn of events. Wind hovered with some distress between Sky and Wild, who was the other most injured member of the group, though the champion was well looked after in Twilight’s hold as the rancher carried him on his back.

Twilight.

Time stared at him too long, meriting a worried expression from the rancher. “You alright?”

Blinking the oncoming tears away, the eldest Link took a deep breath and nodded. “Let’s keep going.”

“That’s what I said,” Legend grumbled, turning back towards the road ahead.

“Yeah, but which way?” Twilight asked, staring at the fork in the road.

The clocktower tolled.

Time pointed left.

“But I can hear the bells to the east of here,” Hyrule noted as he steadied Sky a little. “Shouldn’t we take the path on the right?”

“We’re taking this one,” Time said firmly, brooking no argument. The group followed him silently as he tried to reorient and move ahead like nothing had happened.

His hand slipped into his adventure pouch subconsciously as they walked, and the group started to talk amongst themselves, their voices the most beautiful things he’d ever heard. His heart rate began to normalize, and he closed his eyes, basking in the safety of seeing and hearing everyone alive again.

His fingers brushed against wood in his pouch, and they tingled with warm energy that climbed all the way up his arm, through his shoulder, and into his core. He took another steadying breath, clutching the mask tenderly as an entirely different set of emotions nearly knocked him to the ground, confusion and relief and hope and fear and curiosity above all else.

Another time. Today he tread ahead cautiously and protected his family.

Today he saved them, as he always would.

#writing #who knows if this is even coherent I wrote it between 3 and 7am #but I had fun writing something for LU again #I don't know why it feels like it's been ages but it does #feels like I've either been venting or just writing snippets or working on longfics #haven't had a good *ooh let's do this for funsies!* fic in a while #linkeduniverse #linked universe #lu wind #lu time #lu fierce deity #fierce dadity #I should probably go to bed #Time thinks Fierce is a bad dude and turns out he isn't #how many different flavors of 'Link thinks Fierce is Evil and then finds out he isn't' can I write #who knows #because he's being a protective dad #Fierce cut that dragon into tiny pieces guys #he was not happy with it #it's been a WHILE since I've done something with fierce #glad I could write him again

[abalidoth]

Die a Hainly or Live Long Enough to See Yourself Become the Vilia: Gender, Breath of the Wild, and Representational Sterility

Thanks to @start-anywhere for encouraging me to write this essay!

Major spoilers for Breath of the Wild, minor spoilers for Mass Effect Andromeda and Horizon: Forbidden West, as well as the Tears of the Kingdom trailer and H:FW Burning Shores.

cw: transmisogyny.

"Be careful playing the Gerudo segment," I heard from friends. "There's a transmisogynist joke there."

There's a lot I don't remember about 2017. That year was a perfect recipe for dissociation: I was finishing a very fraught and frustrating PhD dissertation and TAing at the same time, with very little sleep. I was constantly worrying about finding a job after graduation, and moving to a new city sight unseen. I spent the first two months of the year away from Emma for a math fellowship, the longest we'd ever been apart.

And on top of that, I was a closeted trans femme living in Laramie, Wyoming, a town famous for a homophobic hate crime, during the first year of the Trump administration. My gender pressure had been building for years, out to friends online but not to anyone in person save Emma. I knew I wasn't a man but the closest I could come to expressing it was wearing skirts at home, and nail polish on the weekends. (Apply Friday afternoon, remove Sunday evening, repeat weekly.)

But I do remember playing Breath of the Wild with Emma.

Zelda is in the DNA of our relationship -- Emma showed me Ocarina of Time before we even started dating, Twilight Princess was one of the first games we played through together, and I proposed to her with a ceramic replica I made of Anju and Kafei's wedding mask from Majora's Mask.

So, getting to play a new Zelda game -- an extremely good one, at that -- with her, during one of the worst years of my life, was an incredible beacon of light.

So the warning about a transmisogynist joke in the Gerudo segment was disappointing, but I kept it in mind as we played.

For those who haven't played the game, here's a quick synopsis of that quest: Link, our hero, needs to access Gerudo Town, a town of all women. (Sorta. Put a pin in that. 📌) You talk to a male shopkeep outside who tells you that he's heard "a man" has been "sneaking" into town, and he's waiting to catch a peek. Other (Gerudo) characters mention an odd human woman, a merchant, who hangs out on the roof of a bazaar a ways outside town. Up there you find Vilia.

(image source: Zelda Wiki, which correctly genders Vilia unlike some wikis 😒)

If you accuse her of being the "man in disguise" she brushes you off and won't speak to you further. If you compliment her, she'll offer to help you get into town, sell you the Gerudo clothing set (grab another pin 📍) and say how pretty you look, making Link blush. Then the wind will blow her veil aside, which we only see obliquely, but we do see that she has facial hair. Link acts surprised.

Okay. Let's unpack.

First off... Vilia is a trans woman with a beard. I'm just gonna treat that as a fact from this point forward. Everyone who actually interacts with her refers to her as a woman, she refers to herself as a woman, we will set "but maybe she's just a crossdresser" or whatever aside, she's a trans woman. With a beard.

Is that problematic?

A big theme of my evolution as a social justice advocate is that "problematic" is meaningless in a vacuum. The existence of a trans woman with a beard is not, itself, problematic. Otherwise that's pretty bad news for me, a trans femme with a beard.

But her depiction... There are definitely some elements of cultural transmisogyny being upheld here. Stubble is a common feature in popular caricatures of the Gross Tranny. Link's reaction being played for comedy makes Vilia's existence sort of a big joke.

And on a surface level examination, it looks like this is a straightforward "man dresses as woman to gain access to women's spaces" story, straight out of Joanne's Twitter-addled fever dreams.

But other than that, Vilia is pretty well treated by the narrative. All of the Gerudo refer to her as a little odd, but fundamentally a helpful person, and they respect her identity. It's clear when Link runs around Gerudo Town that multiple people clock him, but nobody ever throws him out because they just assume he's a trans woman and therefore implicitly welcome.

Vilia's character model isn't exaggerated in any way I'd consider transmisogynist, aside from the facial hair, and Link in the Gerudo outfit is, well, far from an unflattering portrayal.

And importantly, you cannot progress the main story if you misgender her.

There is no other way to get into Gerudo Town, and thereby the Divine Beast Vah Naboris, if you just say "you're a dude, right?" and don't walk it back. You can technically finish the game without any of the four Divine Beasts, but they make it MUCH easier, and a significant chunk of story is locked behind her quest.

So back in 2017 I played this, went "well that wasn't great but it wasn't as bad as I thought," and went on to wear the Gerudo outfit as much as humanly possible.

Flash forward to my 2023 replay, in anticipation of the sequel. I'm avidly curious to replay this section, given my evolution in my own gender understanding. (The first time around, I id'ed as genderqueer and Definitely Not A Guy but I'm not sure I was comfortable with "trans" yet, and definitely not "situationally a girl".)

Turns out? Vilia fuckin' rules. Gender icon. They hate to see a girlbeard winning.

Ok, I'm exaggerating. (A little.) But there is a reason I'm writing this essay, and I came away with a much improved sympathy for her character and her position in the story. I want to talk about why, but first let's clear a couple of those pins.

📌 The Gerudo are an all-female race. This is historically true in the Zelda games, with the single exception of Ganondorf, an ancient incarnation of evil who is born as the only make Gerudo once in an age. Ganondorf isn't in this game (though he is in the sequel!) so he's not relevant here. There are two things to note here: one, the Gerudo are nonwhite and heavily middle eastern coded. This is something I can't get into, as an Extremely White Person, but their interaction with gender is not without racial context and it would be irresponsible of me to not mention it.

But second, and the thing I will talk about, is that they seldom use the words "man" and "woman", but rather "voe" and "vai". We get these translated for us, but they are just that -- translations. They are gender concepts unique to the Gerudo that get mapped imperfectly to Hylian standards. The Gorons, a race of rock people who all use male pronouns and forms of address, are allowed into Gerudo Town, being "neither voe nor vai". And all of the Gerudo characters treat you differently when you're in the Gerudo clothing, even though it's clear that many of them have the perceptiveness to see through it.

I think it makes perfect sense to interpret "vai" as less "woman" and more "fem presenting". The Gerudo's actions are consistent (arguably, more so) if you do so.

📍The Gerudo armor. There's a few things to talk about here. First, Vilia sells it to you rather than just giving it to you. This seems a bit callous, but there's other similar monetary roadblocks in the game, and she's explicitly a traveling merchant and jewels are (as she says) expensive. I don't blame her.

The Gerudo armor is also, in game, pretty terrible. If you're wearing all three pieces you get a tiny bit of heat resistance, but it has basically no armor and can't be upgraded. There is a purchaseable "voe armor" with similar aesthetics but much better stats, but it can't be used to access Gerudo Town.

This is... Not ideal. I like to run around in the Gerudo armor because Link looks absolutely adorable in it; that was more of a priority back then than it is now that I have my own fem wardrobe, but it's still true. I wish it could be upgraded. I also wish you could just wear whatever armor aesthetically and get a different set of bonuses.

Okay. Now. To explain what it is I actually like about Vilia's portrayal, I want to talk about two other transfeminine characters from open world games: Hainly Abrams from Mass Effect: Andromeda and Wekatta from Horizon: Forbidden West.

Hainly Abrams is a scientist on the planet Prodromos in Mass Effect: Andromeda. In her first conversation with you, you can ask her why she came to Andromeda, and she says she was looking for a fresh start for her transition, and then... weirdly deadnames herself, in a way that feels utterly alien to anyone who's interacted with trans people. BioWare took criticism on this... sort of, and patched that conversation to only happen after you gain her trust by saving her fiance. But it's still extremely jarring. I cannot find information about her voice actress.

Wekatta is a troop leader of the Sky Clan Tenakth in H:FW. Like Vilia, the narrative is actually somewhat cagey as to whether she's a trans woman or not. I don't believe anyone actually refers to her with she/her pronouns, unlike Vilia, and the closest she gets to saying she's trans is

Aloy: And you think he's crazy for trying?

Wekatta: I'm not a fan of that word. When I chose to wear a woman's armor, people called me crazy, too.

Wekatta only shows up for a single minor side quest, and doesn't really get to actually do anything. She is at least voiced by a trans voice actress, Rebecca Root.

Both of these portrayals are mostly free of overt transmisogyny. Hainly deadnames herself in a strange and off-putting way, and Wekatta's portrayal is ambiguous to the point of over-caution, but there's not much that could be read as a transphobic joke like in Vilia's story.

They're also both boring as heck. And neither of them really feels trans.

Both of these characters feel like existing bit-player characters with one "bee tee dubs, I am A Tran" line slapped into their dialog. Sure there isn't anything overtly wrong with that kind of representation, if it's done carefully, but this is "minor character mentions he has a husband" rep, not "on-screen gay kiss with main character" rep. (Side note, though, good for Guerrilla for making Aloy canonically queer in Burning Shores. Haven't played it yet but I'm stoked to. Hell yeah.)

Vilia, as problematic as elements of her portrayal are, feels like a real transfeminine person. She feels more like me. Her gender is kinda messy! She has a girlbeard! She gets to call you out if you misgender her!

And best of all, her interactions with Link (excluding the shocked face at the end, which is pretty annoying) can be read very easily as an older, more experienced trans woman helping a younger trans girl with early transition, giving her her first feminine outfit and complimenting her. There's no wonder why transfem Link is such a popular headcanon. (My personal favorite for Link is some kind of transfeminine genderfluid.)

Vilia isn't perfect, but truly great and realistic trans representation is going to be easier if you start with a Vilia and clip off the overtly problematic bits, than if you start with a Wekatta or a Hainly and try to make them feel more real.

#botw #breath of the wild #vilia #tesserants

[sleepyowlwrites]

writing prompts! lyrics: ordinary magic and delight edition

Paper wings and silly things we wore, paper wings and silly things we swore (Snowbird - EllaHarp)

Bounded by the gravity, of all the other dreams that I was given (In the Kitchen - Mree)

Walk out into the sultry evening, cotton breathing when the sea winds brush the hair down around your neck (Savannah - Relient K)

Remember laughing when the days were long and summer was a never ending fire (All You Are - John Mark Nelson)

Chasing all the things that are keeping us young, we won't stop running 'til we reach the sun (Woodland - The Paper Kites)

There's something 'bout the way you the city when the lights come up as the sun goes down (Nightlife - Old Daisy)

The smell of old cedar and jasmine perfume, fig trees, bottles of milk, and sewing machines (Clay & Cast Iron - Darlingside)

My hope was just in season and that's the truth of it (A La La - Jukebox the Ghost)

The accent in your voice, and all the words you use, I like the way you talk, I love you (The Drums - Tanya Davis)

Something 'bout May makes it all feel better, baby, Summerland holds what I want right now (Summerland - half•alive)

A wild world sharpens its claws, as the nightfire burns, the shadows fade, and at the blush of dawn we'll be okay (Nightfire - Juniper Vale)

Like the angels in the submarine, we'll hold water with our weighted wings (Cassiopeia - Anju)

The universe is an open door, a cosmic retreat beneath my bedroom floor (Starry Eyed - Linus from the Stars)

We were young, I used my paper telescope to show you the stars and then win your heart (Make This Leap - The Hunts)

Oh the places you'll go, with your eyes so wide, with your heart in your hand and your sword at your side (Ih the Places You'll Go - I Fight Dragons)

One time I shook hands with a pirate, he gave me a map to all his gold (Long Way Down - eleventyseven)

When the owls call the breathless moon in the blue veil of the night, the shadows of the trees appear, amidst the lantern light (The Mummers' Dance - Loreena McKennitt)

I'll send a storm to capture your heart and bring you home, oh carried on a breeze, you'll never find me gone (Storm Song - PHILDEL)

Let's stay awake and listen to the dark, before the birds, before they all wake up (Birds - Emiliana Torrini)

If you'll be my star, I'll be your sky, you can hide underneath me and come out at night (Boats & Birds - Gregory and the Hawk)

Give me the song inside your soul, give me the words to sing along (Hold Us Together - WILD)

I was there when the rain tapped the way down your face, you were a miracle, I was just holding your space (Big Black Car - Gregory Alan Isakov)

'Til the stars all fall down, they empty from the sky, but I don't mind, if you're with me, everything's alright (Everything's Alright - Laura Shigihara)

We're far from home, will you come to me, oh weary soul, we can make it through it (Untitled - The Lighthouse and the Whaler)

The darker the night, the brighter the stars ( Sweeter the Heart - Julian Moon)

#writing prompts #prompts list #writing prompt #prompt list #lyric prompt #lyric prompts

[pumpkinsouppe]

I truly believe that the Kafei and Anju wedding side quest is the best side quest in all of the Zelda franchise, or at least it is thematically. It ties in with how I also believe Kafei is one of the most important characters for the Zelda franchise, and possibly THE most important character for why Majora’s Mask is so impactful.

If I don’t stop myself now I might end up writing another essay LMAO but in short, Kafei is Link. Or rather, Kafei is how Link perceives himself in Majora’s Mask. An adult stuck in the body of a child, isolated from everyone he loves. It is truly one of the best reflections of Link’s mental state in any game, the whole game is but this quest is a key part of it. There’s a reason the quest takes up every single moment of the 3 days Link has, even up to the last few seconds before doom. It is a tireless quest to work through this isolation and regain what was stolen away. And the reward? The pure and physical symbol of the love and happiness Anju and Kafei have for each other despite doom awaiting them only minutes later. Kafei could not achieve this on his own. Just like Link can’t go through his burden of grief, depression, anguish, what have you, alone.

Okay fdjskfnjdksba that was not “in short” that was absolutely me about to write an essay lmfao I’m stopping here before I get carried away

#tloz #majora’s mask #kafei #analysis